Throttle valve



Nov. 6, 1951 F. L KALLAM 2,573,712

THROTTLE'VALVE Filed Sept. 4, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR Hos 0LKALLAN ATT ORNEY F. L- KALLAM THROTTLE VALVE Nov. 6, 1951 Filed Sept.4, 1945' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FL 0Y0 L. KHLLH/f ATTORNEY NOV. 6,1951 KALLAM 2,573,712

THROTTLE VALVE Filed Sept. 4, 1945 3 SheetsSheet 3 El 3Ig /6 78 INVENTORFLOYD L. KALLfl I BY M ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1 951 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE THROTTLE VALVE Floyd L. Kallam, Pasadena, Calif.

Application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,258

2 Claims.

The .invention relates to a device for installation in pipe lines andother: closed passages to control the flow rate there-through.

object of the invention is to provide a throttle valve of the typedescribed which is particularly arranged for a remote control of itsoperative condition.

A more specific object is toeprovide a valve of the; character describedwhich has ia contractible throat'for the controlofits section :by afluid- A further object is :to provide 'a valve of the type describedwhich 'is usable as a shut-o'fi valve.

The invention possesses otherlobject's and "fea- "tures of value, someof which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in thefollowing description of typical embodiments thereof, and in theaccompanying drawings, 'in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of an installation of :a valve assemblyembodying the invention.

Figure 2 is :an :end elevation f the valve assembly.

Figure 3' is an upright section taken through the longitudinal valveaxis.

" "Figure 4 is a partially stepped section taken *a'tthe line 4-4' inFigure 3.

' Figure'5 is a plan section taken at the line 5-5 in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is anup'right section taken through the axis of a plugelementwhich may. be sub- 'stituted for a corresponding element shown inFigures 3 to 5.

Figure '7 is -an upright sectional view of the plug of, FigureS, andistaken in a plane at right angles to the view of .Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectiontaken at the line 8-8 in Figure 7.

Figures 9 and 10 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views through theplug members of Figures 3-5 and 6-8, and respectively showthe flowpassages of the plugs in openand fully closed conditions. Figures 11andl2 and 13 and 14 are views corresponding to Figures 3 and 4 and -9and 10 for disclosing a'modificationof the plug structures of the latterfigures.

. -Figure 15 is the side elevation of an embodiment of the valve whichis provided with a manually operative device for providing fluidpressure for setting the valve.

- Figures 16*an'd17 and "18 respectively correspond to :Figures2 and 3and 4 of the first em- 2 bodiment for showing the embodiment of Figure15.

Figure 19 is a sectional plan view taken at the line l9l9 in Figure 17.

Essentially, the flow control device of my invention comprises theinterposition in a pipe line of a tubular member of resilient material,said member normally providing a substantially uniform full-sized flowpassage therethrough, and being circumferentially compressiblefor'decreasing its section for throttling or shutoii .purposes. Thedevice further comprises the provi- 'sion immediately about the memberof achaminclusive, a body or casing 2| of relatively rigid material isprovided having coaxial flanges 22 at its opposite ends for securing thebody to and between end flanges 23 of aligned pipes 24 and 25, wherebythe body 21 is arranged to be interposed ina pipeline of'which the pipes24 and 25 are members. The body portion between its flanges 2-2 isformed to provide a cylindrical space 26 having its axis perpendicularto the body axis, and caps 21 and 28 are provided for closing the space26 at opposite ends. Coaxial flow passages 29 extend between the bodyends to the space 26, said passages being particularly shown as taperingslightly from their outer ends.

A plug member 3| is provided for disposal within the body space 26, saidmember comprising'a sleeve portion 32 :fittedly engaging'the side of:the cylindrical space 26, and having a tubular portion 33 extendingdiametrically between its sides and providing a passage 34 having itsends arranged for simultaneous registration with the inner ends of thebody passages 29 whereby the passages 29 and 34 jointly provide the flowpassage through the body 2|. Preferably, andas shown, the portion 32 ofthe member 3! extends to the ends of the body portion providing thespace 26 receiving it, and the body caps 21 and .23 have reduced inportions2'l and 28' .for scal "ing c'ontaot engagement within the endsof the sleeve portion v32 thereat'for sealing the-plug 31 in said space26.

It will mowbe noted that the member-'3] is portion thereof in accordancewith the applied p,

pressure, whereby to contract and even completely close the passage. V{V For facilitating the described throttlin closing of the passage 34 bythe application of fluid pressure in the closed space 26' about it, thewall of the portion 33 is preferably fluted longitudinally thereof, bothinternally and externally,the

fluting grooves 35 and 36 respectively being mutually staggeredcircumferentially of the portion 33. Preferably, and as brought out inFigures 8 and 9, the grooves 35 are of V section and taper to points atthe ends of the portion 33. Pri- -mary functions of the fluting of theportion 33 are to minimize the required compression of the material atthe portion 33 as the passage 34 is contracted, and to permit a completeclosing of the passage when sufiicient'pressure is applied in the plugspace 3| 'Means are provided for controlling the pres- -sure within thespace 3|, and thereby control the efl'ective flow passageprovided'through the portion 33. As particularly shown, a'pipe 31 isconnected to the cap 21 at an opening 38 therethrough for useincontrolling the pressure condition in the space 3| by means of acontrol fluid, the latter being either liquid or gaseous. The flow ofcontrol fluid to or from the space 3| is controlled through a valve 39connected at the outer end of the pipe 31, said valve being connectedwith a supply pipe 4| from a source (not shown) of fluid under pressureand a relief pipe 42, whereby to control the flow of operatin fluid toorfromthespace 3|. As particularly illustrated, the control valve 39comprises a body providing connections for the pipes 31 and 4| and 42 ina relation in which the connections for the pipes 4| and 42 are co-axialin a line perpendicular to the connection for the pipe 31. Thebody'provides a cavity in which a tapered valve plug 45 is seated forrotation between different operative positions thereof, the

present valve plug being provided with a rightangle duct 46 forproviding intake and relief con J :n'ections for the pipe 31. The valveplug45 is also intermediately settable to close off the pipe 31 thereatand thereby maintain a fixed pressure condition in the space 3| Figure 3shows the valve plug 45 asa set in its closed position which isintermediate betweenintake and relief settings therefor. A handle 41extends from an exposed end of the plug 45 for use in rotating the plubetween its different positions of use in the valve.

Having the tubular portion 33 of themember 3|in'uncompressed or fullyextended, condition, the passage 34 may be contracted by setting thevalve plug 45 for connecting the pipe 4| with the pipe 31 through thevalve plug duct 46. When .the flow of fluid in thecontrolled pipe 24-25has 'been'reduced or stopped as required, the valve plug 45 may be setin its closed-valve position of Figure'3' for'holding the passagesection at its desired size. When the passage 34 is to be reopened ;toits normal full sizathe valve plug 45is setfor .4 connecting the pipe 31with the relief pipe 42. If the control fluid should be air, it may bedischarged to atmosphere from the pipe 42. If the control fluid isliquid, it may be discharged into a waste pipe, or into the pipe linebeyond the present control device if it should comprise liquid of thesame kind as that in the controlled pipe line.

Particularly when the present control device is to function as ashut-off valve ina pipe line, it is generally desirable that thecontraction of the middle part of the portion 33 of the member 3| beeffected about and against a core member exthe member 3| at the ends ofthe passage 34.

The present spiders comprise relatively narrow spokes 49 extendingradially from the ends of the member 48 to rings 50 which arecountersunk in the cylindrical exterior of the member 3| in flushrelation therewith. By having the core assembly 484 9-50 positionedentirely within the cylinder of the member 3|, the latter member may beremoved and replaced simply by removing the cap 21 or the cap 28 fromits normally sealed mounting on the body 2|. Means are preferablyprovided for positively assuring a properly positioning of member 3| inthe space 26; as particularly shown in Figure 5 an external longitudinalrib 52 is provided onthe member 3| for engaging a complementary groove53 provided in the bore of the casing'portion 32.

It is to be noted that the present flow control unit 5| provided by thebody 2| and insert or plug member 3| provides a straight connectingpassage between the connected pipes 24 and 25in contradistinction tousual control valves in which flow-control passages are not straight andare not of the same cross-sectional shapes as the valve is opened orclosed; thus, frictional-losses in the present valve are minimized. Afurther advantage of theuse of a fluid to, control the effective size ofthe passage 34' lies in the fact that the pipe 31 need not be straightand may be of any required length; Figures 1and'2 indicate theinstallation of a unit 5| in a pipe line-well below the top of theground, while the control valve 39 is disposed aboveground. It will beunderstood that the permitted flow rate when the unit 5| is conditionedfor operation as a throttle valve may be ascertained by the use of asuitable flow meter device (not shown) in the pipe line beyond the unit5|, or may be known by appropriately calibrating a pressure meter (notshown) interposed in the supply pipe 4|.

Figures 6 to 10 inclusive illustrate the structure and installation of aplug member 6| which may be installed in the casing 2| in lieu of themember 3|. The present member 6| comprises a homogeneous element formedgenerally as the member 3| but having a core member 68 supportedin itsflow passage 64 by and between sets of spokesYBS integrally connectingit with the rest of the member 6| at the passage ends. The core 68 ofthe member 6|, being laterally flexible, adjusts itself to a centeredposition within the contracted flow tube 63 of the member, particularlywhen complete shutoff is to be effected by and between the passage boreand the core, and may therefore be generally superior to the'rigid core48 of the mem ber 3| when this flow valve is to be completely closed,'Theinstallation and functioning ofthe member -6l are "otherwise thesame his for-the m ber-"31hr the first embodiment. I yr'feihrze to theeniargo 'rragmen "sh: W in or Figure 9, it will be not'ed that thecondition ofthe "flow tube 63 when the passage B'Wthereofreruns? cheatsbrought out 'th'ei'eim =Figiir' 10 shows the cor re'sponding sectionwhenthe now nice 63 grips the core -68 for a shutoif {olos'i of the flowpassage under-the influence o1- iiu'id pre'ssure about it, it beingunderstood that a closing of the flow passage 34 of the flow tube 33 ofthe member 3| isiieiiectedin the same'manner. For facilitating such acontrol of. the effectiveo flow section of'the flow tube passage *64h'efin't'eri'or and exterior of the flow tube are preferably pro videdwith interior and exterior longitudinal grooves $65 and 66 correspondingin form" and arrangement and function UO thBIEgI'OOVES -35qand 38 f aplug member3 l. 7

Fi gures 11' to 14 show a plugmember 6| as applied in the casing 2| inan arrangement lacking any core member for grippingnby the flow tube '63of the member. In the useof themember Bl it will be understdod'th'a'tits-flow tube 63' must be compressed to the limit about its axialline :for effecting a. completenclosure of its'ipassage 6!", a completeshutoff being assured by the provision of axial fiuting V grooves 65'and 66' respectively at the inside and outside of the flow tube andhaving the characteristics of the grooves of the previously describedplug members.

Figures 15 to 19 disclose the general features of the present inventionas provided in a unit II comprising another embodiment. In this form ofthe invention, a body or casing 12 similar to the casing 2| provides acylindrical space 13 for receiving a member 14 such as the member 6| ofFigures 11 to 14. Removable cap members 15 and 16 close opposite ends ofthe space 13; and the cap member 15 is provided with a hand pumpassembly 1'! and a three-Way valve for setting for delivering a changeof the control liquid from the pump to the space 13, holding acontrolling charge in the space 13, or relieving the pressure in thespace 13 to open the flow passage of the member 14. The pump Tlcomprises a cylinder 18 in which a piston 19 is manually operative inalternate intake and compression strokes for the pumping therethroughand into the space 13 of a control fluid for the flow tube portion 8| ofthe member 14. In the present arrangement, the fluid is taken from thecontrolled pipe line for a valve-action contraction of the flow tube 8|,and the fluid so used is arranged to be returned to the pipe line whenthe flow tube is to be opened.

As particularly shown, a duct 82 leads through the casing from the flowpassage of the casing 12 at the intake side of the member 14 to the seatfor the cap 15, and through said cap to a point at the adjacent end ofthe cylinder 18, a ball-check valve 83 being provided in said duct forpreventing a return flow of the control fluid through the duct. A pumpdischarge duct 84 extends through the cap 15 to a seat for a rotaryvalve plug 85 provided in the cap 15, and a ball-check valve 86 isprovided in the duct 85 for preventing a return flow of fluid to thepump. A duct 8'! extends from the valve seat through the cap 75 andcasing 12 to a point in the flow passage of the casing beyond a member14 therein. The discharge and inlet openings for the ducts 84 and 81 areprovided at opposite sides of the valve seat, and a duct 88 extendsthrough the cap 75 and between its inner face and the plug seat at apoint of the latter between the seat ends of the ducts 84 and 81. The

vane pmg es i 'provided with avesh'ape'd duct 89 for operation theduct-46 of the valve plug 45; th'erplugs position being controlled bythe use of a handle-lever =9l @attached 'to' an' extendingendo'ftheplu'g. .v v I Although the member 74 lacks a core within itsflow tube 81 as aounitarypart of the membena c'or'e memberHQTis;disposed axially in the flow tube, and is independentlysupported in thecasing 12. In the pres'entstruoture, the-duct 82 is proevide'ddn:thecasing-portion ahead of the space 13, and ;thecore 92 issupported in its operative position from-the same end ofthe casing.Thecore 92 extends from a spider disc 93 which is countersunk 'in thecasing end face and is held in posi-'- tion by'having its rim portionclamped between itsrseatp-a-ndthe end of =thei pipe 94 to which it isconnected. The 'coreSZ! 'may be of any suitable material, andcomposition and mounting are 20, preferably such as to permita certainamount of centering adjustment thereof as and while it-is grippedin thebore 'of the flow tube 81.

Having the flow tube 8| fully open, and desiring to close it aboutthecore 92vfor throttling action ona stream through the passage of thetube,-the control valve plug 85, is first positioned to connect the pumpTl with the space 13, and the pump is then actuated to build up apressure in said space and thereby close the passage to a desireddegree. When the desired reduced flow through the unit H has beenestablished the plug 85 is turned to its intermediate and closedposition to maintain the pressure in the space 73 and so maintain theadjusted flow rate in the pipe line. When the flow rate of thecontrolled stream is to be increased toward or to its maximum, the plug85 is adjusted to connect the ducts 81 and 88 until the desired streamflow rate has been established; if the new flow rate is less than thepermissible maximum, the plug is rotatably adjusted to its intermediateposition for closing off both the ducts 82 and 81 If the maximum streamflow is desired, the plug is left in its relief position in which itconnects with passages 8'! and 88. Noting that the duct 81 opens intothe casing flow passage at the discharged side of the member 14, it willbe understood that an aspirating effect is produced with respect to thefluid in the space 13 whereby the bore portion provided by the flow tube8| may be even larger than that provided by the body flow bore portionswhich it connects From the foregoing description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, the

advantages of the construction and operation of the present device willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art to which thisinvention appertains While I have described the features and principlesof operation of an assembly which 0 I now consider to comprise apreferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understoodthat the showing is primarily illustrative, and that such changes may bemade, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a flow control device, a body of relatively rigid materialarranged for its interposed connection in a pipe line and providing aconnecting bore and a second body bore intersecting the first bore andclosed at its ends, a tubular member sealedly engaged in the second boreand extending across the first bore and providing openings at oppositesides thereof in registration with the first bore, a flow tube ofresilient material connecting said openings and laterally-spaced fromthe ends of the bore of the tubular member and providinga laterallysealed and normally full-sized bore connecting said; openings and meansfor connecting the space within the tubular member with a source offluid under pressure whereby the introduction of the fluid into thespace is arranged to effect a reduction in the cross-section of thepassage portion provided in the flow tube portion of the member.

2. In a flow control device, a bodyof relatively rigid material arrangedfor its interposed connection in a pipe line and providing a connectingbore and a second body bore intersecting the first bore and closed atits ends, a tubular element of resilient material removably and sealedlyengaging in the second bore and extending across the first bore andproviding openings at opposite sides thereof in registration with thefirst bore, a flow tube of resilient material integral with the tubularelement and connecting said openings and laterally spaced from the endsof the bore of the tubular member and providing a laterally sealed andnormally full-sized bore, and means connecting the space within thetubular element with a source of fluid under FLOYD L. KALLAML REFERENCESCITED I The following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 994,167 Koppitz Jan. 6, 19112,026,916 Smith Jan. 7, 1936 2,069,261 Monnet Feb. 2, 1937 2,291,912Meyers Aug. 4, 1942' 2,313,550 Huber Mar. 9, 1943 1 FOREIGN PATENTS INumber Country Date 371,681 Italy of 1939

